September 11th, 2022 marked the 160th anniversary of the death of Colonel George Watson Pratt, Zadock Pratt’s only son, as a result of his service in the Civil War. George gave his life in the Union cause at the Second Battle of Manassas. Bereft at the loss of his son, Zadock had a wreath containing the names of his children with the following verses removed from the Rocks:
Let Virtue Be Your Greatest Care
And Study Your Delight
So Will Your Days Be Ever Fair
And Peacefully Your Nights
In its place, Zadock commissioned a bust of his son George along the following inscription:
HON G.W. PRATT, Ph. D.,
Col. 20th Regt. N.Y.S.M., Ulster Co., Born April 18, 1830
Wounded Aug. 30, in the 2nd Battle of Manassas, VA.
Died at Albany, N.Y. Sept. 11th, 1862
GOOD BRAVE HONORABLE
This sculpture, carved ca. 1862, would become the first man-made Civil War monument in the United States.
To discover more about Pratt Rock, visit www.townofprattsville.com. Click the “More” button, then click Historic Prattsville.
Carolyn Bennett
Prattsville Town Historian
Zadock Pratt Museum 